Govt set to transfer Kigo prison
Sep 27, 2011
THE Government could take at least five years to transfer Kigo prison to Kasanje, Wakiso district, according to Frank Baine, the Prisons publicist.
By Josephine Maseruka
THE Government could take at least five years to transfer Kigo prison to Kasanje, Wakiso district, according to Frank Baine, the Prisons publicist.
He said the Government had already availed sh1b of the total sh3b needed to acquire the 300-acre piece of land in Kasanje.
“We do not intend to move in the near future. We must ensure that the infrastructure is adequate to accommodate, among others, hardcore criminals including suspected terrorists and convicts,†Baine said.
Baine said a modern prison of international standards would cost the Government sh40b which he said was not available.
At the same site, another multi-functional prison worth sh80b would be set up for terror suspects.
The prison will also accommodate cyber crime suspects and drug traffickers, according to the Uganda Prisons Service commissioner general, Dr. Johnson Byabashaija.
Buganda Kingdom has battled with the Government over the return of Kigo prison since 2008.
A few months ago, court ordered the Government to pay sh11.5b to the Mengo establishment for utilising the facility since 1993.
Kigo prison is on a 328.6 acre piece of land that houses a farm, a school, accommodation facilities for prison warders and other structures. It is located on Kyadondo Block 273, Plot 38.
The prison was built by Sir Edward Muteesa II, Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s father, in 1952.
Following the abrogation of the 1966 Constitution, all the kingdom properties were taken over by Apollo Milton Obote’s government.
However, in August 1993, President Yoweri Museveni’s government returned the assets under the Traditional Rulers Restitution of Properties and Assets Act 1993.
Since then, the Government has been occupying the farm and prison without paying ground rent and premium.
Mengo officials said the kingdom had lost a lot of money ,which would have been raised from that prime land.
Four years ago, Mengo entered into a joint deal with Shotts, a Canadian company, to construct a leisure centre and executive hotel on the Kigo land.
THE Government could take at least five years to transfer Kigo prison to Kasanje, Wakiso district, according to Frank Baine, the Prisons publicist.
He said the Government had already availed sh1b of the total sh3b needed to acquire the 300-acre piece of land in Kasanje.
“We do not intend to move in the near future. We must ensure that the infrastructure is adequate to accommodate, among others, hardcore criminals including suspected terrorists and convicts,†Baine said.
Baine said a modern prison of international standards would cost the Government sh40b which he said was not available.
At the same site, another multi-functional prison worth sh80b would be set up for terror suspects.
The prison will also accommodate cyber crime suspects and drug traffickers, according to the Uganda Prisons Service commissioner general, Dr. Johnson Byabashaija.
Buganda Kingdom has battled with the Government over the return of Kigo prison since 2008.
A few months ago, court ordered the Government to pay sh11.5b to the Mengo establishment for utilising the facility since 1993.
Kigo prison is on a 328.6 acre piece of land that houses a farm, a school, accommodation facilities for prison warders and other structures. It is located on Kyadondo Block 273, Plot 38.
The prison was built by Sir Edward Muteesa II, Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s father, in 1952.
Following the abrogation of the 1966 Constitution, all the kingdom properties were taken over by Apollo Milton Obote’s government.
However, in August 1993, President Yoweri Museveni’s government returned the assets under the Traditional Rulers Restitution of Properties and Assets Act 1993.
Since then, the Government has been occupying the farm and prison without paying ground rent and premium.
Mengo officials said the kingdom had lost a lot of money ,which would have been raised from that prime land.
Four years ago, Mengo entered into a joint deal with Shotts, a Canadian company, to construct a leisure centre and executive hotel on the Kigo land.